Photo above - Sledding and skiing in La Givrine near Arzier
If you are about to move to the Nyon area, and want to know what it is like to live in the village of Arzier, then read this article by Laura Covino Kerpelman. She recently moved to this village in the Jura hills and has written about the beauty of the place, a little bit about the social life, she also touches on the current state of the housing market. You can read Laura's biography at the end of this post.
Living in Arzier
Motivated by my love of nature and beauty, I recently moved to Arzier, and am very happy here. There are some wonderful views to be had living at a high elevation, you can often see the sharp profile of the Alps against sunrises of delicate pale pink skies, and the majestic silhouette of the Mont Blanc emerging from the mist. All this beauty conveys a feeling of living inside a Ferdinand Hodler painting.
Every season has its delights in Arzier
Spring and autumn are colourful and cheerful. In summer, cows are out in the pastures, (you hear the sound of their bells all day long!) Hiking, biking, and VTT are popular sports nearly all-year-round. Winter is an especially festive, fun time. For winter sports lovers, Arzier is just minutes away from the St.Cergue - La Givrine- La Cure area. This provides great opportunities to practice downhill or cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding in a landscape of stunning beauty. Ski lessons and equipment rentals are available for all ages, and mountain restaurants offer fondues and other delightful regional specialities.
A “Green” Attitude
The commune of Arzier-Le Muids includes two villages: Arzier and Le Muids. Both are part of the Nyon district. The village of Arzier is located at an altitude of 881 metres. One of its greatest advantages is that the village is on the Nyon-St.Cergue-La Cure train line, which connects Arzier up to St.Cergue, La Givrine and the La Cure and down to the town of Nyon. It is then 17 minutes to Cornavin (Geneva train station) and a few minutes more to Geneva airport. Arzier is an approximate 15 -20 minute drive distance from Nyon and is provided with a wide and well-maintained main road.
The commune includes 71% of wooded areas, which makes Arzier a true nature lovers’ haven. Choosing to live here means embracing a whole living philosophy, and an attitude well tuned with the spirit of nature. Woods, wildlife, snow and skiing are definitely a big part of daily life here! Hedgehog crossing warning signs, a mountain train breath-taking scenic walks through woods are just a few reminders of the place that nature occupies in this community. Road signs reflect the “eco-friendly” spirit of Arzier.
Social Life and AttractionsArzier has a rich social life with its schools, local associations, a yearly arts and crafts market in early November, a ski-club, a badminton club, choir groups, different walking and fitness groups, the yoga center Yoga Arzier, and more. It also has a public library, and a day-care centre. On August 1st, the Swiss National Holiday, the commune throws a very popular party for all the villagers and their friends, featuring great food and an impressive firework show. On December 1st, Christmas trees are distributed to the village residents at no charge. Many local businesses have flourished here, and you can find out more by browsing the local website Both Arzier and Le Muids have a few good shops and restaurants. A couple are listed below.
Photo above - The Delachaux Bakery Deliciously appealing, the Delachaux bakery and tea-room is right in the village centre. It is the place to stop at during the week or on weekend mornings after having picked up up your fresh newspaper for a treat of fresh bread, pastries, sandwiches and croissants. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Delachaux also own the St.Cergue bakery Open all week except Mondays. Boulangerie Delachaux, rue du Village 14, 1273 Arzier, Tel +41 22 366 3940
Photo above - the Auberge de L'Union Inn , ArzierRecently refurbished and tastefully decorated, situated in the village centre with an exceptional view of the Alps and Lac Léman, the Village Inn “L’Union” features a lovely hotel and restaurant. It is a wonderful place to try out if you wish to enjoy exquisite gastronomic meals in an peaceful, elegant setting, or to spend a few days in a relaxing environment. The restaurant is open all week and closed Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday noon. Reservations are highly recommended. “L’Union” Village Inn, rue du Village, 1273 Arzier, Tel +41 22 366 2504 www.auberge-arzier.chThe Housing Market in Arzier Initially a small farming village, Arzier soon became a preferred summer and winter holiday destination for Geneva-based families. Its proximity to the St Cergue and La Givrine ski domains, the great views of the lake and the Mont Blanc, as well as the extensive walking tracks network contributed to make Arzier a very attractive location for residential living. The village has been steadily expanding in these past few years. Compared to other locations in the area, the great advantage of the local housing market is that in Arzier you can still have more for less. If you are looking for property in the area thenBellini Immobilier / Real Estate is the specialist of the housing market for Arzier and the surrounding region. The agency was started in 2005 by Milena Bellini-Sheppard, and proposes a wide array of customised services that cover real estate transactions including house-search for expatriates intending to relocate in the area, legal counsel for foreigners who want to relocate or buy property in Switzerland. English, French, Italian are spoken. Bellini Immobilier / Real Estate, chemin des Granges 19, 1273 Arzier, Tel +41 79 321 0164; milenabellinisheppard@gmail.com
A lawyer by training, Laura Covino Kerpelman is a free-lance writer with work published in the Environmental Law and Policy magazine She is also an artist, and an art therapist. Her on-going projects are: producing an art book dedicated to the region she inhabits,. Laura has lived in Switzerland since 2005, and in Arzier since spring 2012. She has two grown-up sons, Michael and Alexander. Contact: lkerp@bluewin.ch